** Invisibility and unsanitary conditions: the tragedy of displaced people in Bandundu **
In the Kinvuka district of the city of Bandundu, in the heart of the province of Kwilu, an invisible drama is played out, far from cameras and advertising speeches on social advances in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Hundreds of displaced people, fleeing the atrocities of the Mibondo militia in Kwamouth, live in deplorable sanitary conditions, exposed to diseases of fecal origin. This distressing painting highlights not only a localized humanitarian crisis, but also the structural gaps of an often overloaded and faulty system.
The neighborhood leader, Misimi Ngamayama, sounded the alarm on this alarming situation. “When there are no latrines, but you eat, the consequence is that you are going to make faeces everywhere. This will cause disease, not only the neighborhood, but the whole city is exposed, “he said. With this revelation, it is not only a desperate call for aid, but also a cry of despair in the face of the glaring absence of basic infrastructure in a society plagued by successive crises.
A comparison with other regions of the country highlights the severity of this crisis. In similar areas, such as the Lubumbashi displaced camp, sanitation programs have been set up by international NGOs after cholera epidemics. In Bandundu, the situation seems stagnant, asking the question: why did these tensions not aroused an adequate answer?
Studies show that the absence of adequate health facilities in displaced camps can multiply by five the risk of epidemics of transmitted diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), illnesses of fecal origin, such as cholera and dysentery, are directly linked to the absence of sanitation systems. Global data indicate that more than 2 billion people do not have access to safely managed sanitation services, a reality that directly affects the daily life of the displaced in Bandundu.
Moreover, the need for a supply of sanitation material mentioned by Misimi – houes, boots, gloves, chlorine – is symptomatic of a need not only material, but also of a mobilization of human and financial resources to meet this crisis. Local and international NGOs must take this opportunity to initiate a partnership with state actors. For example, the “Water For All” initiative has proven its effectiveness in other provinces through combined health education and infrastructure rehabilitation programs. Why not consider a model similar to Bandundu?
In addition, this crisis also highlights the lack of access to medical care in this region. Men and women, according to the neighborhood leader, must wait until nightfall to shower. This testimony reveals a much larger reality: it is a question of human dignity which is often neglected in political and media discourse. Beyond the physical oppression they undergo, these displaced people are drawn into a humiliation cycle, which cannot even benefit from the slightest form of intimacy.
This context of unsanitary conditions has social implications. Stigmatization will be inevitable for those who live in precariousness. A suffering population cannot truly aspire to a post-conflict reconstruction. Young people, in particular, are abandoned, without access to education or a living environment conducive to their development, probably strengthening future social tensions.
Recently, students and teaching staff of the Saint Benoit school complex in Masiambio organized a peaceful march, demanding peace in their territory. This courageous act of solidarity is a flash of hope, a call to unity in the face of adversity. However, this requires a holistic approach, integrating the health concerns of the displaced, the education of children and a global action plan for the rehabilitation of infrastructure.
For the moved from Bandundu, the urgency is palpable. If they do not benefit from rapid assistance, the cycle of diseases and suffering will continue to expand. The competent authorities, supported by humanitarian partners, must act immediately to restore a minimum of worthy living conditions and preserve public health. A quick, efficient and coordinated response is essential to break these social and health insecurity chains.
It is crucial to remember that behind each statistician and diagram hides a human being. The drama of the displaced to Bandundu is not only a question of figures, but a human tragedy that deserves to be told. Changing their reality is not just a logistical necessity; It is above all a moral obligation for our society.